Box Score

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's basketball team cut an early second-half 24-point deficit to as few as six points when a three-pointer from sophomore Joe Lococo with 2:12 left in regulation highlighted a furious late comeback before the Raiders eventually dropped an 87-80 at Kutztown from Keystone Arena.

The Raiders (2-23, 0-15 PSAC East) cut their deficit to 11 points on three occasions throughout the second half before getting even closer in the final minutes with an 18-5 run from the 7:11 mark to Lococo's three, which itself capped off a 10-0 run and made the score 77-71.

After a breakaway dunk for the Golden Bears (9-16, 7-8) on their next possession, junior Mark Wilmer made two free throws and again cut the KU lead to six with 1:05 left but the Raiders came up short on their next two possessions to seal their fate.

Wilmer made his second consecutive start and continued his hot play of late by again setting career highs with 22 points (on 9-of-15 shooting) and 12 rebounds for his first career double-double. Wilmer, in fact, set a career high in scoring for the second consecutive game and tied or set a career high in rebounding for the fourth consecutive game.

Lococo scored a game-high 31 points – his third 30-point scoring effort of the season – while pulling down seven rebounds and dishing out a team-high five assists.

Wilmer and Lococo, in fact, scored all of Shippensburg's 25 first-half points before the Raiders exploded for 55 points in the second half – the most points they've scored in a half this season. Helping the cause was freshman Abe Massaley, who scored 19 points in the final 20 minutes.

Shippensburg returns home on Wednesday night for its season finale – an 8 p.m. contest against Millersville from Heiges Field House.